mg.dictatorofcrime-第22章
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〃You're going to look for those crooks？〃
〃I'm going to find them！〃 Allard's manner was emphatic。 〃From what I saw of the floor plan； I won't have any trouble getting to the place where you saw them go。〃
The Shadow had no trouble； despite the fact that he was making his excursion as Allard； not as a figure cloaked in black。
It was dark outside and the gloom had pervaded the casino； except where brilliant chandeliers shone upon the gaming tables。 Moreover； the coolness that always came from nightfall had brought a great many more players to the place。
It was easy for Allard to sidle through the edges of the throng and reach the pillars that supported the surrounding balcony。 There were promenades behind those pillars； dimly lighted and deserted。 Easing along； The Shadow paused briefly at each pillar； until he reached the door he wanted。
It led to a passage； where The Shadow reached a side stairs。 Going down； he picked his way about； through the passages and rooms on the floor below； using his tiny flashlight in the probe。 He was narrowing the quest to a room shown on the floor plan； which had been marked 〃respiradero de mina；〃
signifying an air shaft。
Much too large for an air shaft； the marked room had struck The Shadow as a likely hide…out for Murk Wessel and the other fake workmen。
Halfway across a storeroom； The Shadow halted； then took a swift turn toward a cloth…covered bulk in the corner。 The thing was a shrouded roulette table； reserve equipment for the gambling hall upstairs。
Crouching； The Shadow was gone from sight when a metal partition slid open at the end of the room。 Pierre Treban stepped into sight； plain against the light behind him。 He was ing from the so…called air chamber。
Letting Treban go by； The Shadow approached the partition and slid it open； just a crack。 Through the space he saw Murk Wessel and the other crooks； sitting on the edge of cots under a hanging lamp。 They'd just begun to discuss the news that Treban had brought them。
〃So Castenago wants to see us；〃 Murk was saying。 〃I told you we'd be hearing from him soon enough。〃
〃Yeah；〃 put in a crook。 〃But he didn't say anything about giving us the cut we asked for。〃
〃Why should he？〃 demanded Murk。 〃Treban is only the go…between。 Castenago is going to talk to us； personal。 Don't worry about us getting ours。 I'll make him boost the ante； if anything。〃
〃How'll you do that； Murk？〃
〃By playing up this Shadow business。 Maybe His Nibs is worried。 Those monkeys of his met up with The Shadow last night； and didn't do a thing about it。 We're the guys Castenago needs。〃
There were mutters of doubt。 Murk's followers hadn't forgotten what happened to their pals in Miami Beach。 They were figuring that Murk was playing into Castenago's probable argument that less money would be satisfactory； if each man received a larger share。 Maybe there would be larger shares； if thugs met up with The Shadow。 Larger； for those who survived。 Understanding the grumbles； Murk silenced them。
〃That's only the line I'm going to hand Castenago；〃 he assured。 〃What we asked for； with a bonus later； when we nick The Shadow。 When we get the dough； we can forget the bonus。〃
IN the pleased responses； The Shadow caught references to 〃a million bucks；〃 which indicated that Castenago had promised a straight ten percent to Murk for knocking off Durez and bringing the funds back to the dictator's treasury。
It wasn't surprising that Murk had settled for so little。 A million dollars was probably far beyond any of his crooked dreams。 Besides； ten millions wouldn't have been worth ten cents； had he stayed in the United States after his crime； or even fled to any country other than Centralba。 Murk was marked； safe only through Castenago's aid。
〃Get ready； guys；〃 declared Murk。 〃We're due at the palace soon。 We'll
sneak out and give a flash to Treban。 He'll flash back from his office when everything's ready。 The gatomontes will be along the route； signaling if its clear。
〃Treban says we'll have an hour before the council meeting。 Castenago wants to have a session with us first； and let his regular stooges wait。 An hour's enough。 It won't take us long to sell our idea to Big Chin Face。 I'm
telling you； Castenago is worried！〃
The partition had closed。 The Shadow was returning upstairs。 Margo had finished her first course； and the next was waiting； so Allard told the waiter to serve it and bring the rest along。 As soon as the waiter had hurried away； The Shadow said to Margo：
〃I'll stay about twenty minutes。 After that； if anyone asks you； just say that I'm still around。 I found those fellows； and they're going to the presidential palace。 Somebody has to do something about it。〃
Margo gained the impression that 〃somebody〃 was The Shadow； and that Allard intended to inform him of the brewing trouble。 She still believed that Lamont Cranston had e to Libertad and had established contact with Kent Allard。
Twenty minutes later； Allard was on his way and Margo was finishing her desert alone。 As she left the table； she saw Treban approaching； and walked straight past him； looking toward the roulette players as though expecting to see Allard among them。
Treban cocked his head； looked at the table that Margo had left； and promptly went back to his office。 Margo hoped he wasn't going to call Castenago。 Allard hadn't had much time yet to contact Cranston。
Margo wouldn't have worried had she been able； at that moment； to see them both…Allard and Cranston； rolled into one personality： The Shadow。 He was in the back room of the little shop which he used as headquarters； and had just finished putting on his cloak and hat。
Something rolled from the shelf； and The Shadow caught it before it fell； to turn his flashlight on it。 The thing was a hollow wooden egg； that broke open slightly； to show a smaller egg within it。
A novelty of Japanese manufacture； popular years ago in America； and probably something new today in Centralba。 The Shadow laughed softly as he replaced the wooden egg upon the shelf。
It made him think of the ing situation： a game within a game。 Perhaps it would have been better had The Shadow let the wooden egg fall to the floor。
He'd have remembered； then； that there were still more eggs within it； a whole nest of them； that would have cracked apart； down to the smallest egg that formed the tiny core。
When Luis Castenago played a game with a game； there were apt to be games inside that game； and many of them。
The Shadow was to learn！
CHAPTER XVI
WELE…THE SHADOW！
IT was a very swift and easy trip to the presidential palace； for The Shadow took short cuts； through narrow passages between buildings and even across plazas。
Last night； there had been gatomontes lurking among the buildings； and merrymakers thronging the plazas； making both courses difficult。
This evening； the gatomontes were watching the streets； to make sure that a certain car ing from the casino was neither followed nor intercepted； while the plazas were deserted because there was no fiesta。 In fact； The Shadow didn't have the slightest bother； until he reached the palace itself。
There were soldiers； palace guards； around the fountains above the great marble steps。 They had hired a strolling marimba player to entertain with his music； and the mellow notes of the instrument were blending with the tinkle of the illuminated fountains。
There was too much light for entry by that route； but the presence of so many soldiers pleased The Shadow。 It meant that there would be less inside the palace； and probably none around their own headquarters； the presidio。 So The Shadow skirted the palace； scaled the low roof of the rear building； and took a look at a large courtyard within。
The yard was a cement parade ground； very dim in the darkness behind the palace。 Footsteps would clatter a warning if they arrived there； so The Shadow calmly stretched to the nearest window of the palace and gradually worked it open。
Once inside； he worked his way through darkness； with the occasional use of his tiny flashlight。 He took a loo
